conk out

See also: conkout

English

Alternative forms

• konk out

Etymology

Possibly an onomatopoeic imitation of the sound of a stalling internal combustion engine. Possibly coined by British motorcyclists circa 1910.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Verb

conk out (third-person singular simple present conks out, present participle conking out, simple past and past participle conked out)

1. (intransitive, informal) To fall fast asleep; to sleep soundly.

   Synonym: zonk out

   He wasn't there, just the dog, conked out on the porch.

2. (intransitive, informal) To stop functioning.

   The old car conked out halfway up the hill.

   • 2016, Joseph Henrich, chapter 5, in The Secret of Our Success […] , Princeton: Princeton University Press, →ISBN:

     So, if you want to race your dog, plan a 25-kilometer race on a hot summer day. He'll conk out.

3. (intransitive, informal) To die.

   He lived to be 90, then conked out in his sleep.

   • 1983, John Le Mesurier, self-penned death notice in The Times (16 November)

     JOHN LE MESURIER Wishes it to be known that he conked out on November 15th. He sadly misses family and friends.

Translations

to fall fast asleep

• German: einnicken (de), einpennen (de) (coll.), wegtreten (de)
• Spanish: caer muerto

Translations

• German: ratzen (de), grunzen (de) (slang)

to stop functioning

• German: ausfallen (de), streiken (de), den Geist aufgeben (de) (idiom)
• Portuguese: pifar (pt)
• Spanish: morir (es), petar (es) (Spain)

to die

• German: abtreten (de) (coll.), den Löffel abgeben (de) (coll. / idiomatic), ins Gras beißen (de) (idiom. slang), abkratzen (de) (pejorative)